Bill adds 41 communities to Assam's Scheduled Tribes list

This grants these communities the legal status of Scheduled Tribes for the purposes of the Indian Constitution.

Who it concerns: Members of the 41 communities listed in the Bill (such as Chutiya, Matak, Moran, Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, and others) residing in the State of Assam.

What the bill does

• Inserts 41 new entries (numbered 15 through 55) into Part II (Assam) of the Schedule to the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950.
• The new entries include communities such as Chutiya, Matak, Moran, Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Mal Paharia, Kawar, Lodha, Baiga, Nagasia, Bhil, Gorait, Halba, Majwar, Dhanwar, Asur, Pradhan, Khond, Korwa, Kherwar, Chero, Koya, Birhor, Parja, Mirdha, Kishan, Chik Baraik, Kol, Saora, Birjia, Damdari, Bonda, Mahli, Shabar, Kharia, Gond, Munda, Oraon, Bedia, Santal, and Bhumij.
• The amendment is based on the recommendation of the State of Assam.
• The Financial Memorandum states that the amendment will not entail additional recurring expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India, as benefits will be provided through existing continuing schemes for Scheduled Tribes.

Also in the document

• This is a Constitutional amendment Bill.
• The Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on January 8, 2019.
• The list of Scheduled Tribes for Assam had previously been modified by several Acts, including the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Act, 1956, and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Act, 2003.